Samuel Stophlet, 32° KCCH
(Aug 10, 1859-Oct 24, 1928)
1893 - South Gate Lodge #547
Charter Member - Albert Pike Lodge #219
Past Secretary - Albert Pike Lodge #219
1894 - 32° Consistory of Western MO, Kansas City
1901 - Knight Commander of the Court of Honour
Past Secretary, Valley of Kansas City
Member, Ararat Shrine Temple
Interred: Forest Hill Cemetery
Brother Stophlet was born in Ft. Wayne, Indiana and educated in the public schools of that town. After graduation, he taught a country school for two years and there met his future wife, Florence Stirling, who he married in 1884. Brother Stophlet held many responsibilities with railroad and express companies and was last employed with the Western Trunk Line Committee that is headquartered in Chicago until health problems forced him to retire four years prior to his death.
Brother Stophlet first became a Master Mason in 1893 at South Gate Lodge #547. He later became a charter member of Albert Pike Lodge #219 and served as its secretary for a number of years. he received the Scottish Rite degrees in 1894 and was made a Knight Commander in 1901. He was also a member of the Ararat Shrine Temple. He became secretary for the Scottish Rite in 1895 and held that position for 13 years seeing the membership grow from 300 to 1200 and the building of the temple at 15th Street (Truman Road) and Troost.
At a celebration on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Adoniram Lodge of Perfection on November 14, 1912, Distinguished Brother Stophlet wrote an address recounting the history of the first twenty-five years of the Scottish Rite in Kansas City.